I just noticed this: > so I closed the Office menu screen. I'm not sure what you mean by the "menu screen." Do you mean the install dialog? I ask, because "menu" makes me think you are still using the the cd's autorun. I don't have a menu when I install Office 2003--the installer starts directly from setuppro.exe. If you're still going through some sort of menu, try searching the cd for a file that will start the install directly.
